Theoretical analysis of self-similar crack propagation along viscoelastic and elasto–viscoplastic interface in a double cantilever beam test

As well as most polymer materials, adhesives generally exhibit significant viscous behaviour over a wide temperature range. However, strain rate sensitivity, relaxation or creep phenomena are rarely explicitly considered when crack propagation phenomena along adhesively bonded joints are involved. In the present contribution, a detailed analysis of crack propagation along viscoelastic and elasto–viscoplastic interface in a double cantilever beam (DCB) test is proposed. The Nishihara Model is used for modelling the interface separation mechanical response. Assuming self-similar crack propagation regime, a Eulerian representation can be used to simplify the resolution of the constitutive equations which control the stress/strain distribution along the fracture process zone (FPZ) combined with a finite difference resolution technique to evaluate adhesive strain/stress evolution along the bondline. Parametric analysis is then proposed to evaluate the relation between crack propagation conditions and the interface rate-dependent behaviour